Huanxin’s arrangements were meticulous. As Xuanzang followed him into Yiwucheng, he saw King Yiwucheng waiting at the city gate. The king was reluctant to see Xuanzang go, but the power of the Gaochang Kingdom was beyond his reach, so he could only bid farewell with a heavy heart.
Huanxin rode alongside Xuanzang, accompanied by more than twenty attendants and dozens of camels and horses carrying supplies for their journey to Gaochang. The horses ridden by the Gaochang people were all bred from the Longma of Yanchi, also known as the Sea Horse. These horses were renowned alongside the Dayuan horses for their size and strength, capable of traveling six hundred li a day, and they excelled in swimming, effortlessly carrying both riders and luggage for dozens of miles without tiring.
Huanxin, riding a tall and robust horse, glanced at Xuanzang, who was still mounted on his old, thin red horse, and felt somewhat uneasy. “Master, your horse is both short and thin. Why not ride one of my fine horses instead?”
Xuanzang smiled and patted his lean horse. “This horse is my treasure. If it weren’t for it, I would have perished long ago in Moheyanqi.”
With no choice, Huanxin acquiesced to Xuanzang’s wishes.
The journey from Yiwucheng to Gaochang spanned over eight hundred li, traversing through desolate deserts and barren lands. However, this route lay along the Silk Road, and as long as they did not lose their way, there would be a well every hundred li or so. Originally, where there were wells, there were people, but years of wind and sand had rendered many areas uninhabitable, leading to the abandonment of villages. The remnants of walls surrounded the wells, and some resilient poplar trees added a touch of green to the desert landscape.
As Xuanzang traveled, he noticed that tents had been set up near the wells. Before their arrival, the Gaochang people had already prepared hot water and cooked food. It was November, and the temperature in the desert varied greatly between day and night. In addition to providing Xuanzang with a replacement monk’s robe and a fine sheepskin cloak, the Gaochang people even tailored several outfits for Ashu, made in the style of the Sogdian people, including fur coats, inner garments, leather boots, and socks. Xuanzang couldn’t help but marvel at the attentiveness of King Gaochang; such kindness was truly hard to repay.
Gaochang was located in a basin on the eastern side of the Tianshan Mountains. The journey from Yiwucheng involved a steady ascent, and upon reaching the mountainside of the plateau, they began to descend along a valley carved by the river. It was winter, and the peaks of the Tianshan Mountains towered into the clouds, blanketed in snow, with lush pines and cypresses contrasting beautifully against the white.
After six days, they arrived at Bailicheng, situated on the eastern border of Gaochang. Gaochang operated under a system of counties, comprising four prefectures and twenty-one counties, with Bailicheng being one of them, governed by a county magistrate. Upon reaching Bailicheng, Xuanzang learned that Qu Wentai had even sent his eldest son, the Minister of State and Duke of Jiaohe, Qu Renshu, to personally welcome him.
Gaochang was deeply influenced by the Confucian culture of the Central Plains, practicing primogeniture. Qu Renshu, being the eldest son, held a position of great authority in Gaochang, second only to the king. Xuanzang was taken aback that Qu Wentai would send his heir to greet him, feeling somewhat apprehensive.
Qu Renshu smiled and said, “It is truly a blessing for me to meet the Master today. I had intended to personally welcome you in Yiwucheng, but as the heir, it is somewhat inconvenient for me to travel to a foreign land. Therefore, after Huanxin went ahead, I waited here in Bailicheng, hoping to be the first among the Gaochang people to see you.”
Xuanzang observed that Qu Renshu was in his thirties, tall and elegant, with a refined appearance and cultured speech, embodying the demeanor of a distinguished scholar from the Central Plains. He couldn’t help but praise him. By now, he had met all three sons of King Qu Wentai: the eldest was cultured and refined, the second was bold and valiant, and the youngest was passionate and sincere, each possessing their unique charm, which made Xuanzang hold Qu Wentai in high regard.
After chatting for a while, dusk approached. Xuanzang had planned to rest in the city for the night and set off the next day. However, Qu Renshu awkwardly informed him, “Master, Bailicheng is not far from the royal city. My father is eager to meet you, so please change horses, and we can rest once we reach the royal city!”
Unfamiliar with the geography, Xuanzang assumed that “not far” meant a distance of several dozen li. Since it was not far, he agreed to go. Qu Renshu was delighted and immediately offered his mount to Xuanzang. Since Xuanzang’s thin horse had not rested, he felt reluctant to push it to travel through the night and entrusted it to the county magistrate to send later, riding with Qu Renshu toward the royal city.
As they set off, Xuanzang soon realized that “not far” was relative. The group galloped on horseback and did not arrive at the foot of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinxing Valley until the third watch of the night. Following the path through the gorge, they emerged into an expansive oasis, with vineyards stretching endlessly on both sides of the road.
Twenty li south of Xinxing Valley lay the royal city of Gaochang. Under the night sky, the magnificent city loomed like a giant beast resting quietly on the earth, its gates locked and lights extinguished. However, upon reaching the city, the gates suddenly swung open, illuminating the city with countless torches and lanterns. King Qu Wentai, accompanied by his second son Qu Deyong, nobles, officials, attendants, and palace maids, all came out to greet them, each holding a candle, forming two lines. They had not slept all night, waiting for Xuanzang’s arrival.
Qu Wentai, in his fifties, had a square face, bright eyes, and a short beard. His demeanor was calm and his presence commanding. He wore a crown and a purple royal robe, adhering to the customs of the Central Plains. Upon seeing Xuanzang, Qu Wentai was immediately captivated by his presence. He rushed forward, took the reins of Xuanzang’s horse, and knelt on the ground, exclaiming, “Master, your bearing is truly that of a reincarnated deity! I have longed for your arrival as the parched desert longs for the divine rain, as lost souls yearn for the Maitreya Buddha in their future tribulations!”
The attendants were taken aback by Qu Wentai’s sudden kneeling, scrambling to find a mat to lay down, but Qu Renshu was quick-witted and immediately removed his robe to place it on the ground, preventing Qu Wentai’s knees from touching the dust.
Xuanzang was equally astonished; it was nearly unimaginable for an emperor to kneel on the Central Plains. He wanted to dismount quickly, but Qu Wentai, after kneeling, arched his back and said, “Master, please allow me to serve you with my body. I humbly request you to dismount!”
Xuanzang was momentarily stunned. This scene was reminiscent of the low kneeling that Qu Zhisheng had once performed! How could he accept such a grand gesture? He quickly jumped down from the other side of the horse, walked around the horse’s head, and helped Qu Wentai up. “Your Majesty, I truly cannot accept this. The emperor comforts the people, and the monk educates the hearts of the citizens. A country without Buddhism is unstable, and Buddhism without a country cannot thrive. Your Majesty’s willingness to protect Buddhism has already earned the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and you will surely receive immeasurable blessings and wisdom in the future. How can I accept such a grand gesture from Your Majesty?”
Qu Wentai’s heart soared with joy; Xuanzang’s words struck a chord with him. Firstly, Xuanzang acknowledged the king’s authority over the nation, stating that Buddhism was merely a means to help educate the people and that the two were mutually supportive and indispensable. Secondly, Xuanzang publicly affirmed that the promotion of Buddhism by King Gaochang indicated that he had received the protection of the Buddhas, which was a recognition that would bring him blessings.
“Master,” Qu Wentai said, tears welling in his eyes, “I knew you would arrive at the royal city tonight. Early this morning, I and the queen burned incense and read scriptures, eagerly awaiting your arrival. The palace has been prepared for your visit; please enter the palace.”
A grand sedan chair awaited nearby, and Qu Wentai personally lifted the curtain, inviting Xuanzang into the city. The sides resonated with Buddhist melodies as the sedan chair, surrounded by the king and his officials, entered the royal palace. The back courtyard of the palace had already been cleaned, and a platform was set up inside, adorned with auspicious items such as ivory, jewels, and precious ornaments, shining brilliantly in the light. Soon after, the queen arrived with dozens of palace maids to pay their respects. The queen, in her thirties, appeared somewhat unwell and had a gloomy expression, yet she was beautiful and graceful, resembling a woman from the Central Plains. After the formalities, Qu Wentai allowed her to return to the palace to rest.
Before meeting Qu Wentai, Xuanzang had harbored some dissatisfaction regarding the incident where Qu Deyong had intercepted the Yanchi envoy, believing him to be a ruthless tyrant. However, upon seeing Qu Wentai tonight, he felt that the king was kind-hearted and sincerely devoted to Buddhism, not the cruel and heartless person he had imagined. It seemed that as a king, he truly had no choice but to act in such a manner for the survival of his nation.
By this time, it was already the hour of the tiger, and dawn was just an hour away. Xuanzang noticed Ashu sitting on the bed, his head tilted as if he were listening to their conversation, but he had already fallen asleep, drooling. Seeing that Qu Wentai also appeared somewhat fatigued, Xuanzang said, “Your Majesty, I truly apologize for keeping you waiting so long. You have many state affairs to attend to; it would be best for you to rest early.”
Qu Wentai, full of energy, waved his hand. “No need to rush; I am not tired. To converse with the Master under the illumination of the Dharma, how could I possibly find sleep? Haha.”
Xuanzang chuckled. Qu Wentai hesitated for a moment as if he had something to say but couldn’t find the words. Having traveled extensively since childhood and being perceptive to human emotions, Xuanzang immediately asked, “Does Your Majesty have any concerns?”
“Alas,” Qu Wentai sighed, gesturing for the attendants to leave, his expression shifting between light and dark, yet he remained silent. Xuanzang did not press further, merely smiling and watching.
Qu Wentai seemed to have made up his mind, suddenly kneeling on the ground and bowing his head. “Please, Master, save me!”
Xuanzang was taken aback, quickly jumping down from the bed and supporting him with both hands. “Your Majesty, there is no need for this! What has happened?”
Qu Wentai closed his eyes and sighed deeply, forcing a bitter smile. “There is a family matter I did not wish to disclose, but it is intricately tied to the fate of Gaochang… Alas!” After hesitating for a while, he finally spoke softly, “The root of the problem lies with my youngest son. Since you are already acquainted with him from Yiwucheng, I will start from there.”
“You mean the third prince?” Xuanzang was suddenly alarmed. Over twenty days ago, Qu Zhisheng had collapsed outside Yiwucheng, and he couldn’t help but worry. “Has something happened to the third prince?”
“Something happened to him?” To Xuanzang’s surprise, Qu Wentai became furious. “Hmph! Even if all the people of Gaochang perish, he will be fine! That wretch… that wretch is living quite well!”
Xuanzang was bewildered by Qu Wentai’s seething anger. In his mind, Qu Zhisheng was simple and unassuming; why would Qu Wentai harbor such resentment?
Qu Wentai composed himself and began to explain. “Not long ago, I sent my second son, Deyong, to Yiwucheng on a diplomatic mission. Originally, this trip did not require the third prince, Zhisheng, to accompany him. However, this child has always been weak and unambitious, and I thought it would be good for him to gain some experience, so I forced him to go with his elder brother. Unexpectedly, this trip has brought me endless trouble, nearly leading to the downfall of Gaochang!”
“When the third prince fell into a coma in Yiwucheng, I was present,” Xuanzang said in surprise. “The next day, he was sent back by the second prince, and it seemed that no trouble had arisen.”
“The Master is unaware,” Qu Wentai said with a bitter smile. “The mission to Yiwucheng went smoothly without any issues. However, when my third son returned, he brought back a copper bottle from somewhere. This copper bottle… its body was encircled with gold, inscribed with Persian characters: the King David’s Bottle!”
Xuanzang inhaled sharply, recalling the scene in Moheyanqi when the Yanchi envoy was intercepted. The dying Yezidin had clutched his hand and murmured four words: “There is a ghost in the bottle—”
Xuanzang glanced at the sleeping Ashu, noticing that Ashu’s long eyelashes were slightly trembling, clearly pretending to be asleep. He sighed and furrowed his brow. “What does the copper bottle look like?”
“It stands about two feet tall, weighs over thirty pounds, with a wide belly and a narrow neck, completely sealed. The body of the bottle is intricately carved with patterns, and the mouth is sealed with solder, bearing the seal of the six-pointed star,” Qu Wentai said, a hint of fear in his eyes. “The seal at the mouth is incredibly hard; neither swords nor knives can pry it open. When shaken, the bottle is empty. After Zhisheng returned, he became infatuated with King David’s Bottle, using horses to carry it around, seeking information about it. In the royal city of Gaochang, where Hu and Han people intermingle, there were many merchants from the Persian region. Eventually, one merchant told him that this bottle was the legendary King David’s Bottle of the Persian Empire!”
“Oh?” Xuanzang’s curiosity deepened. “What is the legend surrounding this King David’s Bottle?”
“Indeed!” Qu Wentai’s fear intensified, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. “The legend of this King David’s Bottle is widely known in Sasanian Persia and is quite bizarre. It is said that during the reign of Ardashir I, the founding emperor of the Sasanian Empire, there lived an old fisherman by the sea. He had an aging wife and three children, all dependent on him for sustenance, living in poverty.
Despite making a living by fishing, he had a peculiar habit of only casting his nets four times a day, never willing to catch more. One day, the old fisherman went out to sea and cast his net. On the first cast, he pulled up a dead donkey; feeling utterly dejected, he cast again, only to catch a jar filled with mud. Despairing, he cast his net for the third time, but this time he caught a pile of broken bones and rotten shells. In tears, he cast his final net, and to his surprise, he pulled up a brass bottle, sealed with tin and bearing the seal of Solomon and David.”
Xuanzang listened quietly, unable to restrain his curiosity. “Who is this Solomon David?”
“I specifically asked some Persians about him,” Qu Wentai replied. “They say Solomon David was the third king of the ancient Kingdom of Israel and the greatest king in its history. He was a great monarch, a formidable military leader, and the wisest of men. Under his reign, the Kingdom of Israel reached its glorious peak. He was exceptionally talented, having composed thousands of poems throughout his life. He was a man favored by the divine, and his wisdom was said to be imbued with a divine essence. Legend has it that he possessed a ring inscribed with a six-pointed star and the true name of God, granting him the power to command the demon realm.”
Xuanzang marveled, “Indeed, the three thousand great worlds are full of wonders. Please continue, Your Majesty!”
Qu Wentai nodded and continued, “After the old fisherman pulled up King David’s Bottle, he pried open the tin seal at the mouth to see what was inside. To his astonishment, a thick blue smoke billowed out, transforming into a giant demon, as tall as a mountain, with disheveled hair and a hideous, menacing appearance. The old fisherman was petrified by the sight of this demon, but the demon begged for mercy, saying, ‘Great Solomon, forgive me! I will never defy your will again.’
The old fisherman replied, ‘Solomon has been dead for over a thousand years; we are now in the last days of his legacy. How did you end up in this bottle?’ Upon hearing this, the demon retorted, ‘Fisherman, I bring you good news: I am going to kill you.’ The old fisherman asked, ‘Why do you want to kill me? Did I commit a crime by freeing you?’ The demon explained that he was a servant of the demon king Ahriman, named Akamana, who possessed great powers.
Anyone under his control would lose the ability to discern right from wrong, good from evil. He had been captured by Solomon David and sealed in this bottle, covered with a six-pointed star seal, and thrown into the sea, condemned to remain there for eternity. He spent countless years at the bottom of the sea. In the first century, he vowed: that whoever rescues me will enjoy a lifetime of wealth and honor.
But no one came to save him. In the second century, he vowed: whoever can save me, I will grant him all the treasures of the underworld. Yet still, no one came. In the third century, he vowed: whoever can save me, I will fulfill three of his wishes. Again, no one came. By the fourth century, he became enraged and swore: whoever comes to save me, I will kill him. And it was at that moment that the old fisherman saved him.”
“Amitabha, all things in the world are subject to birth and death, change and transformation. Nothing escapes the grasp of impermanence. The old fisherman’s fortunes and misfortunes, joys and sorrows, are indeed a profound commentary on the true teachings of Buddhism,” Xuanzang remarked, astonished by this foreign tale. However, he felt not fear but rather the deep meaning contained within the story. “What happened next?”
“Later, the old fisherman said, ‘Since I saved you, if you want to kill me, let me die with clarity. How could such a large body fit into such a small bottle?’ The demon, feeling quite pleased, transformed into a wisp of blue smoke and slipped back into the bottle to demonstrate his powers. The old fisherman, quick-witted, seized the tin seal and covered the bottle’s mouth. The demon realized he had been tricked and tried to escape, but the six-pointed star seal blocked him. The old fisherman then threw the bottle back into the sea.”
Qu Wentai sighed deeply after finishing his tale, and Xuanzang said, “Everyone possesses the Buddha nature! It was the old fisherman’s quick thinking that saved himself.”
As they conversed, they suddenly heard a faint sobbing sound. Both turned in surprise to see Ashu, who was sleeping with his eyes closed, his face wet with tears.
Qu Wentai, who had previously paid little attention to the child, was now taken aback. “Master, what is wrong with this child?”
Xuanzang understood immediately, furrowing his brow as he approached Ashu and whispered, “Ashu, don’t keep it bottled up inside. His Majesty is not a bad person; you can tell him everything honestly. I believe he will give you justice.”
Ashu slowly opened his eyes, tears welling in his blue gaze. Qu Wentai was even more confused. “Master, what is going on?”
Suddenly, Ashu screamed, “It was you… you killed my uncle and my people!”
Qu Wentai was taken aback. “Master…”
Xuanzang shook his head and sighed. “Your Majesty, this child is not someone I brought from Chang’an; he was found in Moheyanqi. He is originally a Sogdian, traveling with his uncle and people to Chang’an. While passing through Yanchi, he was traveling with a group of Yanchi merchants. Unfortunately, when they reached Moheyanqi…”
Qu Wentai suddenly stood up, disbelief etched on his face as he pointed at Ashu. “Could it be… could it be…?”
Xuanzang nodded, gazing deeply at him. “The merchant caravan that the second prince killed in Moheyanqi was his kin. At that time, he hid in the sand and narrowly escaped. Later, I happened to pass by, saw his plight, and took him with me, intending to return him to his hometown in Samarkand.”
Qu Wentai slumped back down, his face alternating between red and pale, his lips trembling. “Master, I…”
His expression resembled that of a child caught in wrongdoing.
“Your Majesty,” Xuanzang said softly, “I understand the conflict between Gaochang and Yanchi, and I empathize with your predicament. However, such slaughter of merchants, does it not violate the precepts of Buddhism?”
Qu Wentai sat there in a daze, his heart churning with intense regret and shame, unable to lift his head. He had always prided himself on being a wise king, striving to be the most virtuous ruler in Gaochang’s history. He had gone to great lengths to ‘forcefully’ bring Xuanzang from King Yiwucheng, only to have this darkest and bloodiest chapter of political maneuvering witnessed by this renowned monk from the Tang Dynasty, who had also brought the victim before him.
“Master…” Qu Wentai stared blankly at Xuanzang, tears streaming down his face. “I am a layperson who has taken the Five Precepts; how could I dare to kill without cause? However, I wanted to do good, yet the king’s actions were evil. In this conflict between nations, there is no room for morality or compassion. You know that control over the Silk Road is the lifeblood of small nations in the Western Regions. If the Yanchi people wish to change the Silk Road, and if I harbor good intentions, my entire Gaochang will be swept away by the desert winds, the people scattered, and the nation will collapse!”
“Is it not possible for nations to coexist peacefully?” Xuanzang asked. “Does Your Majesty have a way to coexist with Yanchi without further bloodshed?”
Qu Wentai smiled bitterly. “It is not a matter of willingness. Take my Gaochang as an example: once the Silk Road is rerouted, trade will cease, and tax revenues will dry up. The arable land and pastures of this oasis in Gaochang are far from sufficient to sustain thirty thousand citizens, leading to mass migration to other countries.”
“Then, if the population decreases, can the nation still survive, even if it becomes smaller?” Xuanzang inquired. He was not questioning but genuinely wanted to understand the issues faced by the nations of the Western Regions.
Qu Wentai shook his head repeatedly. “Master, you do not understand. The oasis nations in the desert rely on human labor to sustain themselves. In this arid desert, the water sources within the oasis are far from sufficient. We must build complex irrigation systems to water our crops. For Gaochang, we dig canals to bring water from the foot of the Tianshan Mountains, twenty li north of the city and then channel it into the areas surrounding Gaochang. Besides the main canal, there are sixteen channels to the west and seventeen to the east, with nine channels each to the north and south. Such a complex irrigation system requires a vast number of people to maintain.”
Xuanzang was astonished. “There are so many channels? Yet on my way here, I saw very few!”
“Ha ha,” Qu Wentai chuckled bitterly. “Of course, you wouldn’t see them; most are underground channels. The so-called underground channels are those hidden beneath the surface. In the arid desert, if the channels were exposed, they would evaporate or seep into the sand. Therefore, we take advantage of the high terrain of the Tianshan Mountains and the low terrain of the city to dig the channels underground, traversing the Gobi Desert to reach the irrigation areas.
In the irrigation areas, we dig vertical wells above the underground channels every hundred steps to draw water for irrigation. Just in Gaochang, the total length of the underground channels reaches seven to eight hundred li. Please consider, Master, how many people are needed to maintain such a complex irrigation project? If the population decreases, the irrigation system cannot be sustained, the farmland will be eroded by wind and sand, and the oasis will gradually turn into a desert. Gaochang will vanish from the earth! On the old Silk Road, there was once the Kingdom of Loulan by the Changpu Sea, which became a deserted city because the Silk Road was rerouted, trade ceased, and the population dwindled, leading to the collapse of its irrigation system in just a few decades.”
The Kingdom of Loulan was well-known to the people of the Central Plains, and the conflicts between the Han Dynasty and Loulan were widely recognized. Loulan was seen as a typical rebellious and evil small nation in the minds of the Central Plains people. Over a hundred years later, Wang Changling would express his sentiments: “In a hundred battles, the golden armor is worn; I will not return until Loulan is conquered.” By that time, Loulan had already been buried in the desert for four hundred years.
“In this world, everyone is striving with all their might. Great powers compete fiercely, and small nations must also exert themselves to survive. The Pure Land of Maitreya, I truly do not know when it will arrive,” Xuanzang lamented.
Seeing Ashu looking at him with hatred, Qu Wentai sighed deeply. “Regardless, my slaughter of the innocent is a grave sin. The dead cannot be brought back to life. Tomorrow, I will send people to Moheyanqi to gather the remains of those Sogdian merchants and transport them to the Zoroastrian temple in Gaochang, where they will be properly buried in the Tower of Silence. I will personally go to pay my respects.” He looked kindly at Ashu. “If you can forgive me, I hope to offer generous compensation to your uncle and kin: one hundred gold coins and one thousand silver coins for each, sent to Samarkand, so that their families can live without worry.”
At this point, Xuanzang had no further words to say. As a ruler, Qu Wentai’s willingness to adopt such a humble stance demonstrated his sincerity.
Ashu remained silent, lost in thought for a while, then turned over in bed, pulled the blanket over himself, and wept alone.
Qu Wentai and Xuanzang fell into a moment of silence, both gazing out the window. The sky was beginning to brighten. Xuanzang adjusted the wick of the lamp and said, “Your Majesty, dawn is approaching. Has the tale of the King David’s Vase been fully told?”
Qu Wentai slapped his forehead, revealing a look of regret. With Ashu’s interruption, he had nearly forgotten the important matter at hand. He quickly continued, “What I just recounted was the origin of King David’s Vase. It is said that the old fisherman inadvertently revealed this story, which came to the attention of Ardashir. At that time, Ardashir had not yet become the Emperor of Persia; he was still the governor of the Parthian Empire in the city of Fars.
After gaining the support of the nobility and religious priests, he planned to rebel. Hearing of the vase’s miraculous powers, he sent people to investigate secretly and indeed retrieved it from the sea. He made a pact with the demon within the vase: if the demon granted him three wishes, he would release it. His first wish was to destroy the Parthian Empire. Within two years, he achieved this, defeating the last emperor of Parthia and establishing the Sasanian Empire, which has lasted for four hundred years.”
“Such a miraculous tale?” Xuanzang was astonished, realizing that Qu Wentai was not merely recounting a legend but rather a piece of history. “What was his second wish?”
“At that time, the newly established Sasanian Empire faced its greatest enemy, the Kingdom of Greater Armenia, which was vast and powerful. Ardashir’s second wish was to conquer Greater Armenia. Three years later, he fulfilled this wish, and the King of Armenia submitted to him,” Qu Wentai explained.
Xuanzang’s curiosity deepened. “And what was the third wish?”
“There was no third wish,” Qu Wentai said with a bitter smile. “After achieving the second wish, he was supposed to open King David’s Vase and release the demon. But Ardashir was not the kind of person to commit such a foolish act. He never made another wish, and throughout his life, he never completed his pact with the demon. He intended to keep the King David’s Vase in the Sasanian Empire forever, passing it down to his descendants for generations.”
Xuanzang was speechless, realizing that such a cunning figure could outsmart even a demon. “So, the King David’s Vase indeed remained in Persia, passed down through successive Persian emperors?”
“Exactly,” Qu Wentai confirmed. “I inquired with nearly all the Persians in Gaochang, and they said that King David’s Vase is indeed hidden within the Persian court, held by each successive emperor. Each emperor could only make two wishes with the vase, and with those two wishes, the Sasanian Empire maintained stable rule for four hundred years. Over these four centuries, countless heroes and ambitious figures have eyed the throne, yet all were suppressed and eliminated by King David’s Vase. Haha, I even heard a romantic tale.
It is said that the current Persian Emperor, Khosrow II, was quite the libertine in his youth. He did not believe in the vase’s magical powers, so he wished for the most perfect woman in the world. As fate would have it, he encountered Princess Shirin of Georgia, whom he immediately found breathtaking and married as his queen. Even now, that Queen Shirin must be over fifty, yet Khosrow II still treats her with utmost respect and affection.”
Xuanzang furrowed his brow. “Since King David’s Vase is the national treasure of the Persian Empire, how did it end up in the East with a group of Sogdian merchants?”
Qu Wentai shook his head in confusion. Xuanzang turned to Ashu and asked, “Have you ever heard your uncle mention this?”
“No,” Ashu replied, burying his head under the blanket, his voice muffled. “My uncle has never been to Persia. He transported goods from the East to Samarkand and then sold them to the Persian merchants there.”
Xuanzang pondered for a moment, finding no clues. However, it was certain that Yezdin had established connections with the Persians. As for how King David’s Vase left Persia and ended up in Yezdin’s hands, it likely involved a complicated process. But for now, that seemed unimportant.
What Xuanzang did not realize was that the very process he had chosen to overlook concealed the most astonishing secret of King David’s Vase, which would lead to his soul being scorched during this journey to the Western Regions, as if he had fallen into hell.
“Your Majesty, what happened next? What transpired?” Xuanzang inquired.
“After that…” Qu Wentai’s face showed signs of fear, and his throat seemed dry. “The third prince learned of the legend of King David’s Vase and began to ponder how to communicate with the demon within. He fiddled with the vase daily in the palace. At first, I did not take it seriously, thinking it was merely a foreign tale. But one day, my palace steward, Zhu Gui, came to report to me… This wretch, he… he truly deciphered the secret of the King David’s Vase and made a pact with the demon!”
“What?” Xuanzang’s mouth fell open in shock, his eyes wide. Even Ashu, who had been hiding under the covers, sat up abruptly, staring at Qu Wentai in disbelief. Although the story had been thrilling and dramatic, it had felt distant, like a foreign legend. Now, it had suddenly shifted from the distant Persian court to their very own lives.
“Indeed,” Qu Wentai said, half-laughing, half-crying. “He truly made a pact, and Zhu Gui witnessed it with his own eyes. Not only Zhu Gui, but more than a dozen people in my palace also saw it. This wretch took his hot blood and poured it over the mouth of King David’s Vase, which devoured the blood as if it were alive. The vase was adorned with numerous carved patterns, and the blood filled every groove, with golden and silver threads embedded in the patterns, resembling the veins beneath human skin. Then, smoke began to rise from the vase’s mouth, coalescing above the palace, and lingering like a solid form. Even more bizarrely, voices began to rumble from the smoke, conversing with that wretch!”
“There truly is a demon in the vase…” Xuanzang felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead, recalling the four words Yezdin had uttered before his death, sending chills down his spine.
“A demon in the vase? What does that mean?” Qu Wentai asked.
Xuanzang recounted Yezdin’s last words, and Ashu, remembering his uncle’s tragic fate, began to cry. Qu Wentai, feeling ashamed, walked over to the low couch and sat down, gently comforting Ashu as an apology. Ashu seemed captivated by the story of King David’s Vase, wiping his tears and listening intently.
“Did the third prince make any wishes?” Xuanzang asked.
“Of course he did,” Qu Wentai replied with a bitter smile. “Who could resist such temptation? His wish… guess what it was, Master?”
Xuanzang paused, a sudden realization striking him. He exclaimed, “Could it be… Princess Yanchi?”
Qu Wentai wanted to laugh, but his expression was more sorrowful than joyful. “Master, your wisdom is indeed remarkable; you guessed it immediately.”
Xuanzang was speechless. Anyone with even a slight understanding of Qu Zhisheng would likely deduce his wish. Qu Wentai continued, “According to Zhu Gui and other palace attendants, this wretch vowed to the demon that he would make three wishes in his lifetime to release the demon; the demon also promised to help him fulfill any wish. Then, this wretch declared, ‘I am deeply in love with the Princess of Yanchi, Long Shuangyue. My first wish is to win her love and be with her for life.’”
Qu Zhisheng was a person of excellent character and nature, but he was overly obsessed. Xuanzang had always worried that his fixation might lead him down a dark path, and now it seemed that his fears had come true. “What happened next? Did he achieve this wish?”
“He did,” Qu Wentai’s face turned ashen.
“That can’t be!” Xuanzang was puzzled. “Your country and Yanchi are like fire and water. Not to mention whether Your Majesty would allow the third prince to marry the Yanchi princess, even the King of Yanchi would likely not want his daughter to marry a prince of Gaochang, right?”
“Not only would he not want that, it is utterly impossible!” Qu Wentai sneered. “Long Tujizhi, that old fool, is arrogant and has only brute strength. He has fought against me for decades, often finding himself at a disadvantage. If it weren’t for his good daughter, he would have been driven into the desert long ago. However, I truly envy him for having such a good daughter. Long Shuangyue has been intelligent since childhood, fluent in seven languages, especially skilled in governance and strategy, and she is extraordinarily beautiful, known as the ‘Phoenix of the Western Regions.’ If she wished to become my daughter-in-law, I would gladly accept. The problem is that Long Tujizhi treasures Shuangyue and wants her to marry the Khagan of the Western Turks. Why would he look favorably upon Qu Zhisheng, a prince without any claim to the throne?”
Xuanzang nodded. “Then how could the third prince’s wish be fulfilled?”
“Ha! Sorcery! Magic! It’s simply absurd and bizarre!” Qu Wentai could not help but curse, patiently explaining, “After making his first wish, the demon immediately said, ‘At the hour of Shen tomorrow, you will go to the city of Jiaohe and stand at the foot of the red stone slope. Do not stray even a little. No matter what falls from the slope, you must catch it with both hands.’ After saying this, the smoke dissipated, and the demon vanished without a trace. So, the next day, this wretch went to Jiaohe.
Jiaohe is the largest of the four counties in my Gaochang, located over eighty miles northwest of the royal city, and it is a fortress on the Silk Road. The red stone slope is beside the river north of Jiaohe, standing like a cliff, about two or three zhang high, and its color resembles red stone. When the hour of Shen arrived, this wretch stood at the foot of the slope, waiting. At that time, I heard Zhu Gui’s report and sent someone to follow him to see, but I still had some doubts and did not go myself. I never expected… I never expected…”
Qu Wentai’s facial muscles twitched, clearly terrified, and he struggled to find his voice.
“What happened?” Xuanzang asked softly.
“At the hour of Shen,” Qu Wentai suddenly exclaimed, “the sound of hooves echoed from the top of the red stone slope, and a horse neighed loudly as a person and horse fell straight down from the top! This wretch dodged the falling horse and rushed forward to embrace the figure. The two of them tumbled down the slope together. When he looked down, he found that he was holding none other than Princess Shuangyue of Yanchi!”
Xuanzang and Ashu exchanged glances, speechless. This was truly too bizarre.
“So… what happened next?” Xuanzang felt his throat growing dry.
“Princess Shuangyue sustained minor injuries, and this wretch took her back to the palace to treat her wounds.” Qu Wentai knew this was hard to believe, yet it had indeed happened. “Initially, Princess Shuangyue treated him coldly, but after her injuries healed, her demeanor changed completely. She treated him with utmost tenderness and refused to return to Yanchi, spending her days in the palace with that wretch, whispering sweet nothings…”
Qu Wentai was extremely troubled, but Xuanzang laughed. “Isn’t that wonderful? Such a daughter-in-law is exactly what you desire. Why not just let them be together?”
Qu Wentai was taken aback for a moment, then said, “Master, it’s not that simple. Given the relationship between Gaochang and Yanchi, can this matter end well? The people of Yanchi believe that Zhisheng forcibly took Shuangyue and is holding her captive in the palace. You must understand how precious Princess Shuangyue is to Long Tujizhi. My Gaochang prince has taken his princess; would he let this go?”
Xuanzang had not considered this angle. After a moment of thought, his expression changed dramatically. Qu Wentai observed his reaction and smiled bitterly. “Master, have you figured it out? Our two countries have always maintained a fragile peace. De Yong killed the Yanchi envoy, infuriating Long Tujizhi, but he had no evidence and could do nothing. Now, Zhisheng has brazenly taken his princess in front of everyone… The next day, Yanchi issued a decree demanding the return of the princess, or they would resort to arms. They also invited the countries of Kuche and Shule. Over the years, many Western Region nations have envied Gaochang’s wealth. Seizing this opportunity, the three countries threatened that if we did not release the princess, they would send a coalition army north to attack the royal city, leaving nothing but ruin.”
Xuanzang finally realized the gravity of the situation. “Then why doesn’t Your Majesty allow the third prince to release Princess Shuangyue? He could explain it gently and find a way to resolve this disaster.”
At this point, Qu Wentai’s face turned ashen with anger, his hands trembling. “How I wish to do so! But… that wretch refuses! He has blocked the doors of his palace, declaring it forbidden ground. He threatens that anyone who dares to force him to return the princess will have their soul claimed by the demon and be imprisoned in the mud pit for eternity!”